309 Vine St.
Downtown
tel: 513-241-4448
www.cafedevineonline.com
M-F 7 a.m.-3 p.m.
Located in an art deco outpost next to PNC Tower, this pleasant diner has been serving up breakfast and lunch to downtown office workers for over 60 years. There's a reason for their staying power; wallet-friendly good food served fast by amiable staff. It really ought to be the business plan for every restaurant.
Café DeVine isn't the easiest restaurant to find, although they do place a couple of weatherworn plaquards on the sidewalk along Vine as a visual reminder that they're there. The restaurant itself is located in the lobby of the 309 Vine Building, which, while not as lavishly glamorous as the Omni Netherland, still echoes with the distinctively festive "Beaux Arts" character that defined the Roaring Twenties.
Vegetarians usually don't have a lot of luck at greasy-spoon eateries, but Café DeVine offers a couple of meat-free options that satisfy. Of course there are salads, but a more substantial option is the Vegetarian Sandwich ($6.99), which manages to be both healthy and unhealthy at the same time.
The sandwich is chock-full of grilled mushrooms, bell peppers, onions and a generous helping of spinach, but the addition of gooey, stringy Provolone cheese and thick, buttery, toasted white bread negates the healthiness of the veggies. Not that I'm complaining - it's delicious, and totally my fault that I didn't opt for a healthier side instead of fries - but hey, they smelled so good that I had to have them.
Café DeVine also boasts a triple-decker grilled cheese ($5.99) on their sandwich menu, and offers spaghetti with vegetarian-friendly marinara sauce as an entree. Both are tasty, filling and inexpensive. It's a winning combination.
2 comments:
Looks like a great little place...I am going to have to make a pont to stop by the next time that I am down that way during lunch time.
I'll have to come meet you for lunch some day....this looks good!
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